ON THE BALL

Bye, bye Bushrod

Published: Friday, March 15, 2013 at 6:26 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 15, 2013 at 6:26 a.m.

The New Orleans Saints don’t have a proven left tackle on their roster as of this moment, and for a pass-happy football team, that is a scary way to go about life.

I am not one to panic, and I understand that there is a long way to go before the end of free agency, the draft and the start of training camp, but Saints fans should have at least a bit of an unsettled feeling after former starting left tackle Jermon Bushrod signed with the Bears on Tuesday.

Chicago paid big for Bushrod, who will join former Saints offensive line coach Aaron Kromer in Chicago.

The Bears are paying him nearly $36 million over five years with $17.715 guaranteed. The Saints simply were not going to pay Bushrod that much even though he had been stellar during his four seasons protecting the blind side of Drew Brees.

He even made the Pro Bowl this past season for the second time as an alternate, but the Saints did (or didn’t) do what they had to, and now there is a giant question mark where Bushrod’s 6-foot-5, 315-pound frame once stood.

Some have questioned just how good Bushrod is, saying Brees’s quick release and pocket presence did much to hide some of Bushrod’s deficiencies.

Personally, I feel Bushrod is just about as good as any other left tackle in the NFL, and he came a long way in gaining the trust of Brees and becoming one of the leaders on offense. Remember, he was the starting left tackle on some of the most prolific passing offenses in NFL history. I have also been seeing reports of out Chicago by some saying the Bears overpaid for Bushrod.

If Bushrod can manage to help keep Jay Cutler more upright this season will remain to be seen, but the fact is the Saints are looking to fill that void.

If they don’t snag a veteran in free agency, the most likely candidate to replace Bushrod is Charles Brown, who has battled injuries after being drafted by the Saints in the second round of the 2010 draft. If Brown is healthy, he may have all the tools to be the guy to replace Bushrod, if not, and the Saints don’t make a move to pick up someone via free agency or in the draft, the team could be in trouble.

In fact, if the left tackle spot becomes one of the weaknesses for the Saints this season, concerns about the whole offensive line may follow. The team has solid guard play in Jahri Evans and Ben Grubbs and a young up-and-comer in center Brian De La Pueta, but Zach Strief suffered through injuries last season at right tackle and if the left-tackle spot does not work out for the team this season, that may spell disaster on the edges.

I think at this point, you just have to trust that general manager Mickey Loomis and coach Sean Payton have a plan in moving forward at the left tackle spot. After all, the Saints offense will survive without Bushrod.

The question is will it continue to flourish with someone else in his spot.

Staff Writer Kelly McElroy can be reached at 857-2211 or at kelly.mcelroy@houmatoday.com.

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